While the mandate has been struck down, Judge Vinson has effectively affirmed the federal government’s alleged authority to regulate healthcare. This of course is unconstitutional.

“I must reluctantly conclude that Congress exceeded the bounds of its authority in passing the act with the individual mandate. That is not to say, of course, that Congress is without power to address the problems and inequities in our health care system. The health care market is more than one-sixth of the national economy, and without doubt Congress has the power to reform and regulate this market. That has not been disputed in this case. The principal dispute has been about how Congress chose to exercise that power here,” [emphasis added]

Reminds us of the Heller non-victory opinion which agreed with an individual’s right to own firearms but stated that federal government has the authority to regulate that right.